Ivan Duknovic
Encyclopedia
Giovanni Dalmata born Ivan Duknović and also known as Giovanni Duknovich di Traù and Ioannes Stephani Duknovich de Tragurio, was a sculptor
from Trogir
, Dalmatia
who was mainly active in Rome
, Hungary
and in Dalmatia
. Giovanni Dalmata was, with Mino da Fiesole
and Andrea Bregno
, the leading sculptor in Rome in the second half of the 15th century.
He was born in Vinišće
, a Dalmatian village (now a part of Marina
) in Croatia
around 1440 and came to Rome between 1460 and 1465 to work for Pope Paul II
on the Palazzo di Venezia. Other works in and around Rome include: the Tempietto S. Giacomo in Vicovaro
(near Tivoli
), the tomb monuments of Pope Paul II in St. Peter's (now dismantled), the tomb of Cardinal Bartolomeo della Rovere in San Clemente
, the tomb of Cardinal Bernardo Eroli (now Grotte Vaticane).
Around 1488–1490, Duknovich went to the Court of King Matthias Corvinus in Buda
, where he stayed for a few years, mastering a number of works which are unfortunately all either completely destroyed or badly damaged (e.g. the Fountain of Hercules in Visegrád
).
After his stay in Hungary, Giovanni Dalmata returned to Traù (Trogir) where he left a number of works, most important among those is the statue
of St. John the Evangelist in the Orsini chapel in Trogir Cathedral. He is also the creator of the sculpture of St. Magdalene in the Franciscan monastery of St. Anthony on the nearby Čiovo
island and worked with Nicolò Fiorentino and Andrea Alessi on the renaissance palace Cippico in Traù.
Around 1503, he was in Rome again, working on the tomb
of the Papal Protonotary Lomellino. In 1509 he executed the tomb of the Beato Giannelli for S. Ciriaco in Ancona
. Some documents of 1513 and 1514 refer to "Magistro Joanni lapicida" in Traù where he presumably died soon afterwards.
Recently his newly discovered work (The Virgin and Child, marble relief) was offered on auction in London's Katz gallery and bought for £
250,000 by Trogir City Museum, which now owns six masterpieces. But the authenticity of this work must remain doubtful.
Sculpture
Sculpture is three-dimensional artwork created by shaping or combining hard materials—typically stone such as marble—or metal, glass, or wood. Softer materials can also be used, such as clay, textiles, plastics, polymers and softer metals...
from Trogir
Trogir
Trogir is a historic town and harbour on the Adriatic coast in Split-Dalmatia County, Croatia, with a population of 12,995 and a total municipality population of 13,322 . The historic city of Trogir is situated on a small island between the Croatian mainland and the island of Čiovo...
, Dalmatia
Dalmatia
Dalmatia is a historical region on the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea. It stretches from the island of Rab in the northwest to the Bay of Kotor in the southeast. The hinterland, the Dalmatian Zagora, ranges from fifty kilometers in width in the north to just a few kilometers in the south....
who was mainly active in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
and in Dalmatia
Dalmatia
Dalmatia is a historical region on the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea. It stretches from the island of Rab in the northwest to the Bay of Kotor in the southeast. The hinterland, the Dalmatian Zagora, ranges from fifty kilometers in width in the north to just a few kilometers in the south....
. Giovanni Dalmata was, with Mino da Fiesole
Mino da Fiesole
Mino da Fiesole , also known as Mino di Giovanni, was an Italian sculptor from Poppi, Tuscany. He is noted for his portrait busts.-Career:...
and Andrea Bregno
Andrea Bregno
Andrea di Cristoforo Bregno was an Italian sculptor and architect of the Early Renaissance who worked in Rome from the 1460s and died just as the High Renaissance was getting under way.-Early life:...
, the leading sculptor in Rome in the second half of the 15th century.
He was born in Vinišće
Vinišce
Vinišće is a village and small harbour 12 km southwest of Trogir, Croatia; population 765. Main occupations are fishing and tourism. The coastal strip near the village provides opportunities for underwater fishing, and is distinguished by attractive inlets with sandy and pebble beaches....
, a Dalmatian village (now a part of Marina
Marina, Split-Dalmatia County
Marina is a municipality in Split-Dalmatia county, Croatia. It has a population of 4,771 , 97% whom are Croats.Marina is located on a main road . It is a tourist village with a sandy beach shaded by olive and pine trees. Tourist also enjoy the atmosphere of ancient Dalmatian wine cellars, fresh...
) in Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
around 1440 and came to Rome between 1460 and 1465 to work for Pope Paul II
Pope Paul II
Pope Paul II , born Pietro Barbo, was pope from 1464 until his death in 1471.- Early life :He was born in Venice, and was a nephew of Pope Eugene IV , through his mother. His adoption of the spiritual career, after having been trained as a merchant, was prompted by his uncle's election as pope...
on the Palazzo di Venezia. Other works in and around Rome include: the Tempietto S. Giacomo in Vicovaro
Vicovaro
Vicovaro is a comune in the Province of Rome in the Italian region Lazio, located about 45 km northeast of Rome....
(near Tivoli
Tivoli, Italy
Tivoli , the classical Tibur, is an ancient Italian town in Lazio, about 30 km east-north-east of Rome, at the falls of the Aniene river where it issues from the Sabine hills...
), the tomb monuments of Pope Paul II in St. Peter's (now dismantled), the tomb of Cardinal Bartolomeo della Rovere in San Clemente
Basilica di San Clemente
The Basilica of Saint Clement is a Roman Catholic minor basilica dedicated to Pope Clement I located in Rome, Italy. Archaeologically speaking, the structure is a three-tiered complex of buildings: the present basilica built just before the year 1100 during the height of the Middle Ages; beneath...
, the tomb of Cardinal Bernardo Eroli (now Grotte Vaticane).
Around 1488–1490, Duknovich went to the Court of King Matthias Corvinus in Buda
Buda
For detailed information see: History of Buda CastleBuda is the western part of the Hungarian capital Budapest on the west bank of the Danube. The name Buda takes its name from the name of Bleda the Hun ruler, whose name is also Buda in Hungarian.Buda comprises about one-third of Budapest's...
, where he stayed for a few years, mastering a number of works which are unfortunately all either completely destroyed or badly damaged (e.g. the Fountain of Hercules in Visegrád
Visegrád
Visegrád is a small castle town in Pest County, Hungary.Situated north of Budapest on the right bank of the Danube in the Danube Bend, Visegrád has a population 1,654 as of 2001...
).
After his stay in Hungary, Giovanni Dalmata returned to Traù (Trogir) where he left a number of works, most important among those is the statue
Statue
A statue is a sculpture in the round representing a person or persons, an animal, an idea or an event, normally full-length, as opposed to a bust, and at least close to life-size, or larger...
of St. John the Evangelist in the Orsini chapel in Trogir Cathedral. He is also the creator of the sculpture of St. Magdalene in the Franciscan monastery of St. Anthony on the nearby Čiovo
Ciovo
Čiovo is a small island located off the Adriatic coast in Croatia with an area of 28.8 km2 , population of 6,071 inhabitants and its highest peak is 218 m ....
island and worked with Nicolò Fiorentino and Andrea Alessi on the renaissance palace Cippico in Traù.
Around 1503, he was in Rome again, working on the tomb
Tomb
A tomb is a repository for the remains of the dead. It is generally any structurally enclosed interment space or burial chamber, of varying sizes...
of the Papal Protonotary Lomellino. In 1509 he executed the tomb of the Beato Giannelli for S. Ciriaco in Ancona
Ancona
Ancona is a city and a seaport in the Marche region, in central Italy, with a population of 101,909 . Ancona is the capital of the province of Ancona and of the region....
. Some documents of 1513 and 1514 refer to "Magistro Joanni lapicida" in Traù where he presumably died soon afterwards.
Recently his newly discovered work (The Virgin and Child, marble relief) was offered on auction in London's Katz gallery and bought for £
Pound sterling
The pound sterling , commonly called the pound, is the official currency of the United Kingdom, its Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, British Antarctic Territory and Tristan da Cunha. It is subdivided into 100 pence...
250,000 by Trogir City Museum, which now owns six masterpieces. But the authenticity of this work must remain doubtful.